Compartmented tray structure



Nov. 15, 1966 M. J. COE ETAL COMPARTMENTED TRAY STRUCTURE 2Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed June 10, 1964 Nov. 15, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1964United States Patent 3,285,493 COMPARTMENTED TRAY STRUCTURE Merrill J.Coe and Cartis 1). Rice, both of Kalamazoo,

Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Brown Company, a corporationof Delaware Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,102 10 Claims. (Cl.229-27) ever, the addition of separate partitions to the tray oftenincreases the cost of the tray to a prohibitive extent.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tray or containerstructure having vertical partitions dividing the tray into a pluralityof compartments. It is a further object to provide a structure of thetype described which may be formed from an integral blank of aninexpensive sheetform material such a paperboard. It is an additionalobject to provide such a structure which is relatively strong andretains its form through normal usage. It is an additional object toprovide a structure which is inexpensive to produce and which may beformed by means of automatic machinery. The accomplishment of theforegoing and additional objects will become more fully apparenthereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a blank suitably cut and scored forforming a partitioned tray according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a tray erected from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the erected tray, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 44 of FIG. 3, showingbaked goods in several compartments of the tray.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a betterunderstanding of the invention, wherein all the parts are numbered andwherein the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding partsthroughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blank 1 is shown suitably cut and scored to forma bottom 2, side panels 3 and 4, and end panels 5 and 6. Glue flaps 7,8, 9 and 10 are provided at the ends of the end panels for securing theend panels to the side panels.

The central portion of the bottom 2 of the tray is suitably cut andscored to provide a partition member 11 hingedly connected to the bottomat a score line 12 and having a media-11y positioned tab 13 at itsproximal end, a partition member 14 hingedly connected to the bottom 2at a score line 15 and having a medially positioned tab 16 at itsproximal end, a partition member 17 hingedly connected to the bottom 2at a score line 18 and having an upwardly positioned tab 19 at itsproximal end, and a partition member 20 hingedly connected to the bottomat a score line 21 having an upwardly positioned tab 22 at its proximalend. A central web 24 is divided by a score line 25 colinear with thescore lines 18 and 21 into toes 26 and 27. The score lines 12 and 15 aresubstantial-1y colinear, and the score lines 18 and 21 are substantially colinear, the score lines 12 and 15 being substantiallyperpendicular to the score lines 18 and 211. The partition members 17and 20 are provided with medially positioned recesses 28 and 29,respectively at their proximal ends, and the partition members 11 and 14are provided with upwardly positioned recesses 30 and 31, respectively,at their proximal ends. Although the recesses 30 and 31 are not strictlyrecesses with respect to the score lines 18 and 21, they are in factrecesses with respect to the proximal ends of the partition members 11and 14 as de-. fined by the tabs 13 and 16 respectively.

In erecting the tray of the invention, the end panels 5 and 6 are gluedto the side panels 3 and 4 by means of the glue flaps 7-10. Thepartition members 11, 14, 17, and 20 may then be extended vertically.The partition members 17 and 20 may first be placed in erect verticalposition with the tabs 19 and 22 in overlapping engagement. In apreferred embodiment the tabs 19 and 22 are placed in transposedoverlapping engagement, that is, they are moved past each other so thattheir opposite surfaces engage. The tabs then cooperate with the toes 26and 27, which upon erection of the tray come into sideby-siderelationship with at least a portion of toe 26 in overlapping engagementwith at least a portion of toe 27 to form an interlocking structure. Therecesses 28 and Q3 cooperate to form a slot retaining the tabs 13 and16, and the recesses 30 and 31 cooperate to form a slot retaining thetabs 19 and 22. When the structure is fully erected and the tabs areretained in their respective slots, an interlocking radial partitionstructure is formed, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In FIG. 4 the trayis shown having baked goods 32 in the compartments.

The side panels and end panels may be made of various sizes and shapes,either deep or shallow. The panels may be secured in a positionperpendicular to the bottom, as shown in the drawings, or alternativelymay be secured at either an acute or obtuse angle with respect thereto,in forms well known in the art. Instead of glue flaps, interlockingstructures, tapes, or other securing means may be utilized to secure thepanels together.

The partition structure may also vary considerably from that shown. Thepartitions may be made higher or lower, longer or shorter. The cornersof the partitions may be rounded as shown, or may be left pointed.Complete box structures with covers may also be used instead of opentrays. However, it is necessary that the basic structure be utilized,that is, a structure of four partitions oriented substantiallyperpendicular to each other, two opposing partition flaps having uppertabs and two opposing partition flaps having lower tabs, with slotsappropriately formed to receive the tabs. If desired a plurality ofpartition structures may be utilized in a large tray to divide the trayinto a plurality of compartments.

The partition tray of the present invention is useful for many purposeswhere containers for four or groups of four items are to beseparated sothat they do not contact each other. The structure is relativelyinexpensive and simple to fabricate and erect. Once erected, arelatively strong permanent structure is provided which will withstandsubstantial abuse during shipment and storage.

In a further embodiment of the invention, any one or more of thepartition members may be provided with tabs and recesses on both endsrather than a single end, co-operating as a common partition with threeother pairtition members to form six compartments, and so on.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactdetails of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodimentsshown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will beapparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide aradial partition structure, said structure comprising a first pair ofvertically arranged partition members hingedly connected to said bottomat substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to thescore lines of said first pair of partitions, both said first pair ofpartition members and said second pair of partition members beingprovided with tabs and recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses ofsaid first partition members cooperating to define a slot retainingtherein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and therecesses of said second pair of partition members cooperating to definea slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members,whereby said partition members are interlocked to form a structuredefining four compartments.

2. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide aradial partition structure, said structure comprising a first pair ofvertically arranged partition members hingedly connected to said bottomat substantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to thescore lines of said first pair of partitions, said first pair ofpartition members being provided with upwardly positioned tabs andmedially positioned recesses at their proximal ends, said second pair ofpartition members being provided with medially positioned tabs andupwardly positioned recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses ofsaid first partition members cooperating to define a slot retainingtherein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and therecesses of said second pair of partition members cooperating to definea slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition.

members in overlapping engagement, whereby said partition members areinterlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

3. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide aradial partition structure comprising a first pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to thescore lines of said first pair of partition members, said first pair ofpartition members being provided at their proximal ends with upwardlypositioned tabs, medially positioned recesses, and downwardly positionedtoes arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair of partitionmembers being provided at their proximal ends with medially positionedtabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of said firstpartition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein thetabs of said sec-nd pair of partition members in overlapping engagement,and the recesses of said second partition members cooperating to definea slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members inoverlapping engagement, whereby said partition members are interlockedto form :a structure defining four compartments.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the proximal ends of saidsecond pair of partition members are recessed at their lower portion toclear the toes of said first pair of partition members.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the toes are hingedlyconnected along a score line.

6. A container comprising a bottom suitably cut and scored to provide aradial partition structure comprising a first pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines, and a second pair of verticallyoriented partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines substantially perpendicular to thescore lines of said first pair of partition members, said first pair ofpartition members being provided at their proximal ends with upwardlypositioned tabs, medially positioned recesses, and downwardly positionedtoes arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair of partitionmembers being provided at their proximal ends with medially positionedtabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of said firstpartition members cooperating to define a slot retaining therein thetabs of said second pair of partition members in overlapping engagement,and the recesses of said second partition members cooperating to definea slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partition members intransposed overlapping engagement, whereby said partition members areinterlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

7. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partitionstructure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom,a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines and adapted to be verticallyarranged, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected tosaid bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantiallyperpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions andadapted to be vertically oriented, both said first pair of partitionmembers and said second pair of partition members being provided withtabs and recesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said firstpartition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retainingtherein the tabs of said second pair of partition members, and therecesses of said second pair of partition members adapted to cooperateto define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said first partitionmembers, whereby, when erected, said partition members are interlockedto form a structure defining four compartrnents.

8. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partitionstructure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom,a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines and adapted to be verticallyarranged, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected tosaid bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantiallyperpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partitions andadapted to be vertically oriented, said first pair of partition membersbeing provided with upwardly positioned tabs and medially positionedrecesses at their proximal ends, said second pair of partition membersbeing provided with medially positioned tabs and upwardly positionedrecesses at their proximal ends, the recesses of said first partitionmembers adapted to cooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabsof said second pair of partition members, and the recesses of saidsecond pair of partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slotretaining therein the tabs of said first partition members inoverlapping engagement, whereby, when erected, said partition membersare interlocked to form a structure defining four compartments.

9. An integral blank for forming a container having a radial partitionstructure, said blank being suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom,a first pair of partition members hingedly connected to said bottom atsubstantially colinear score lines and adapted to be verticallyoriented, and a second pair of partition members hingedly connected tosaid bottom at substantially colinear score lines substantiallyperpendicular to the score lines of said first pair of partition membersand adapted to be vertically oriented, said first pair of partitionmembers being provided at their proximal ends with upwardly positionedtabs, media-11y positioned recesses, and downwardly positioned toesadapted to be arranged in overlapping engagement, said second pair ofpartition members being provided at their proximal ends with mediallypositioned tabs and upwardly positioned recesses, the recesses of saidfirst partition members adapted to cooperate to define a slot retainingtherein the tabs of said second pair of partition members in overlappingengagement, and the recesses of said second partition members adapted tocooperate to define a slot retaining therein the tabs of said firstpartition members in overlapping engagement, whereby, when erected, saidpartition members are interlocked to form a structure defining fourcompartments.

10. An integral blank according to claim 9, wherein the proximal ends ofsaid second pair of partition members are recessed at their lowerportion to clear the toes of said first pair of partition members Whensaid partition structure is erected, and wherein said toes are hingedlyconnected along a score line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,723,796 11/1955Malmgren 229--29 10 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A BOTTOM SUITABLY CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE ARADIAL PARTITION STRUCTURE, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FIRST OFVERTICALLY ARRANGED PARTITION MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOMAT SUBSTANTIALLY COLINEAR SCORE LINES, AND A SECOND PAIR OF VERTICALLYORIENTED PARTITION MEMBERS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM ATSUBSTANTIALLY COLINEAR SCORE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THESCORE LINES OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF PARTITIONS, BOTH SAID FIRST PAIR OFPARTITION MEMBERS AND SAID SECOND PAIR OF PARTITION MEMBRS BEINGPROVIDED WITH TABS AND RECESSES AT THEIR PROXIMAL ENDS, THE RECESSES OFSAID FIRST PARTITION MEMBERS COOPERATING TO DEFINE A SLOT